UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 File No.  333-108894

Pre-Effective Amendment No. o

Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 þ

and

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 File No. 811-21099

Amendment No. 25 þ

(Check appropriate box or boxes.)

NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT – 12

(Exact Name of Registrant)

NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

(Name of Depositor)

One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215

(Address of Depositor's Principal Executive Offices)                                                                                                (Zip Code)

Depositor's Telephone Number, including Area Code (614) 249-7111

Robert W. Horner, III, Vice President and Secretary,

One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering December 15, 2008

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

þ      immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

o      on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

o      60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

o      on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

If appropriate, check the following box:

o      this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

Title of Securities Being Registered Individual Flexible Premium Deferred Variable Annuity Contract

The prospectus supplement dated September 15, 2008 and the prospectus and statement of additional information dated May 1, 2008, previously filed with the Commission under SEC file No. 333-108894 are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this registration statement.

Nationwide Life Insurance Company:

·Nationwide Variable Account - 12

Prospectus Supplement dated December 15, 2008 to

your Prospectus Supplement dated September 15, 2008 and your Prospectus dated May 1, 2008

This supplement updates certain information contained in your prospectus.  Please read it and keep it with your prospectus for future reference.

1.   Effective as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange on January 12, 2009, the Capital Preservation Plus Lifetime Income Option is no longer available to new purchasers.  Accordingly, the first two sentences of the “Capital Preservation Plus Lifetime Income Option” subsection of the “Charges and Expenses” section in your prospectus are deleted and replaced with the following:

The Capital Preservation Plus Lifetime Income Option is only available at the time of application for contracts issued based on good order applications signed and dated on or prior to January 12, 2009.  After January 12, 2009, the Capital Preservation Plus Lifetime Income Option is only available to those contract owners that previously elected either the Capital Preservation Plus Option or the Capital Preservation Plus Lifetime Income Option.

Additionally, the first two sentences of the “Availability” subsection of the “Capital Preservation Plus Lifetime Income Option” section are replaced with the following:

The Capital Preservation Plus Lifetime Income Option is only available at the time of application for contracts issued based on good order applications signed and dated on or prior to January 12, 2009.  After January 12, 2009, the Capital Preservation Plus Lifetime Income Option is only available to those contract owners that previously elected either the Capital Preservation Plus Option or the Capital Preservation Plus Lifetime Income Option.

2.   Effective March 2, 2009, the following underlying investment options will no longer be available to new investors in these Income Benefit Investment Options for the 5% Lifetime Income Option:

W&R Target Funds, Inc. - Pathfinder Aggressive Portfolio

NVIT - NVIT Investor Destinations Moderately Aggressive Fund: Class II

If you are invested in these Income Benefit Investment Options prior to March 2, 2009, you are permitted to make subsequent purchase payments as long as you remain invested in these Income Benefit Investment Options.  No transfers into these Income Benefit Investment Options will be permitted on or after March 2, 2009.  Any asset rebalancing program established prior to March 2, 2009, that includes one of these Income Benefit Investment Options will continue to rebalance; however, you will not be permitted to increase the percentage of contract value that is rebalanced into these Income Benefit Investment Options.

In addition, the Income Benefit Investment Options listed above will no longer be available for any dollar cost averaging program established on or after March 2, 2009.  Any dollar cost averaging program established prior to March 2, 2009, that includes either of the Income Benefit Investment Options listed above will continue uninterrupted, however, you will not be permitted to increase the percentage of contract value that is transferred through your dollar cost averaging program into either of these Income Benefit Investment Options.

      

                  WR-0234-7               

    

PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24.                 Financial Statements and Exhibits (Hereby incorporated by reference)

(a) Financial Statements:

Nationwide Variable Account-12:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Contract

Owners' Equity as of December 31, 2007.

Statements of Operations for the year ended

December 31, 2007.

Statements of Changes in Contract Owners'

Equity for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.

Notes to Financial Statements.

Nationwide Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Consolidated Statements of Income for the

years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and2005.

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of

December 31, 2007 and 2006.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’

Equity as of December 31, 2007,

2006 and 2005.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for

the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006

and 2005.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Financial Statement Schedules.

Item 24.                 (b) Exhibits

(1) Resolution of the Depositor's Board of Directors authorizing the establishment of the Registrant – Filed previously with initial Registration Statement on May 17, 2002 (File No. 333-88612) and hereby incorporated by reference.

(2) Not Applicable

(3) Underwriting or Distribution of Contracts between the Depositor and Waddell & Reed, Inc. Principal Underwriter – Filed previously with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on September 13, 2002 (File No. 333-88612) and hereby incorporated by reference.

(4) The form of the variable annuity contract – Filed previously with initial Registration Statement on September 18, 2003 (File No. 333-108894) and hereby incorporated by reference.

(5) Variable Annuity Application – Filed previously with initial Registration Statement on September 18, 2003 (File No. 333-108894) and hereby incorporated by reference.

(6) Articles of Incorporation of Depositor – Filed previously with initial Registration Statement on May 17, 2002 (File No. 333-88612) and hereby incorporated by reference.

(7) Not Applicable

(8) Fund Participation Agreements.

1) Fund Participation Agreement with Nationwide (NVIT) filed previously on July 17, 2007, with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 (File No. 333-140608) as exhibit 24(b) and hereby incorporated by reference.

2) Fund Participation Agreement with W&R filed previously on September 27, 2007, with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 (File No. 333-137202) as exhibit 24(b) and hereby incorporated by reference.

(9) Opinion of Counsel – Filed previously with Registration Statement on April 26, 2007 (File No. 333-108894) and hereby incorporated by reference.

(10) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Attached hereto.

(11) Not Applicable

(12) Not Applicable

(99) Power of Attorney – Attached hereto.

Item 25. Directors and Officers of the Depositor

Chairman of the Board and Director	Arden L. Shisler
Chief Executive Officer and Director	W. G. Jurgensen
President and Chief Operating Officer	Mark R. Thresher
Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Governance Officer	Patricia R. Hatler
Executive Vice President-Chief Administrative Officer	Terri L. Hill
Executive Vice President-Chief Information Officer	Michael C. Keller
Executive Vice President-Chief Marketing Officer	James R. Lyski
Executive Vice President-Finance	Lawrence A. Hilsheimer
Senior Vice President and Treasurer	Harry H. Hallowell
Senior Vice President-Associate Services	Robert J. Puccio
Senior Vice President-Chief Compliance Officer	Carol Baldwin Moody
Senior Vice President-Chief Financial Officer	Timothy G. Frommeyer
Senior Vice President-Chief Investment Officer	Gail G. Snyder
Senior Vice President-Chief Litigation Counsel	Randolph C. Wiseman
Senior Vice President-CIO NSC	Robert J. Dickson
Senior Vice President-CIO Strategic Investments	Gary I. Siroko
Senior Vice President-Corporate Strategy	J. Stephen Baine
Senior Vice President-Customer Insight/Analytic	Paul D. Ballew
Senior Vice President-Customer Relationships	David R. Jahn
Senior Vice President-Division General Counsel	Roger A. Craig
Senior Vice President-Division General Counsel	Thomas W. Dietrich
Senior Vice President-Division General Counsel	Sandra L. Neely
Senior Vice President-Government Relations	Jeffrey D. Rouch
Senior Vice President-Head of Taxation	Pamela A. Biesecker
Senior Vice President-Health and Productivity	Holly R. Snyder
Senior Vice President-Human Resources	Kim R. Geyer
Senior Vice President-Individual Investments Business Head	Eric S. Henderson
Senior Vice President-Individual Protection Business Head	Peter A. Golato
Senior Vice President-Information Technology	Srinivas Koushik
Senior Vice President-Internal Audits	Kelly A. Hamilton
Senior Vice President-NF Marketing	Gordon E. Hecker
Senior Vice President-NF Systems	Susan Gueli
Senior Vice President-NFN Retail Distribution	Michael A. Hamilton
Senior Vice President-Non-Affiliated Sales	John L. Carter
Senior Vice President-NW Retirement Plans	William S. Jackson
Senior Vice President-President – Nationwide Bank	Anne L. Arvia
Senior Vice President-Property and Casualty Commercial/Farm Product Pricing	W. Kim Austen
Senior Vice President-Property and Casualty Commercial/Farm Product Pricing	James R. Burke
Senior Vice President-Property and Casualty Human Resources	Gale V. King
Senior Vice President-Property and Casualty Personal Lines Product Pricing	J. Lynn Greenstein
Senior Vice President-Assistant to the CEO and Secretary	Thomas E. Barnes
Director	Joseph A. Alutto
Director	James G. Brocksmith, Jr.
Director	Keith W. Eckel
Director	Lydia M. Marshall
Director	David O. Miller
Director	Martha Miller de Lombera
Director	James F. Patterson
Director	Gerald D. Prothro
Director	Alex Shumate
Director	Thomas F. Zenty III

The business address of the Directors and Officers of the Depositor is:

One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215

Item 26. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Depositor or Registrant.

*	Subsidiaries for which separate financial statements are filed
**	Subsidiaries included in the respective consolidated financial statements
***	Subsidiaries included in the respective group financial statements filed for unconsolidated subsidiaries
****	Other subsidiaries

COMPANY	STATE/COUNTRY OF ORGANIZATION	NO. VOTING SECURITIES (see attached chart unless otherwise indicated)	PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
1717 Advisory Services, Inc.	Pennsylvania		The company was formerly registered as an investment advisor and is currently inactive.
1717 Brokerage Services, Inc.	Pennsylvania		The company is a multi-state licensed insurance agency.
1717 Capital Management Company*	Pennsylvania		The company is registered as a broker-dealer and investment advisor.
AGMC Reinsurance, Ltd.	Turks & Caicos Islands		The company is in the business of reinsurance of mortgage guaranty risks.
ALLIED General Agency Company	Iowa		The company acts as a general agent and surplus lines broker for property and casualty insurance products.
ALLIED Group, Inc.	Iowa		The company is a property and casualty insurance holding company.
ALLIED Property and Casualty Insurance Company	Iowa		The company underwrites general property and casualty insurance.
ALLIED Texas Agency, Inc.	Texas		The company acts as a managing general agent to place personal and commercial automobile insurance with Colonial County Mutual Insurance Company for the independent agency companies.
AMCO Insurance Company	Iowa		The company underwrites general property and casualty insurance.
American Marine Underwriters, Inc.	Florida		The company is an underwriting manager for ocean cargo and hull insurance.
Atlantic Floridian Insurance Company (f.k.a. Nationwide Atlantic Insurance Company)	Ohio		The company writes personal lines residential property insurance in the State of Florida.
Audenstar Limited	England		The company is an investment holding company.
Cal-Ag Insurance Services, Inc.	California		The company is an insurance agency.
CalFarm Insurance Agency	California		The company is an insurance agency.
Champions of the Community, Inc.	Ohio		The company raises money for gifts and grants to charitable organizations

COMPANY	STATE/COUNTRY OF ORGANIZATION	NO. VOTING SECURITIES (see attached chart unless otherwise indicated)	PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
Colonial County Mutual Insurance Company*	Texas		The company underwrites non-standard automobile and motorcycle insurance and other various commercial liability coverage in Texas.
Corviant Corporation	Delaware		The purpose of the company is to create a captive distribution network through which affiliates can sell multi-manager investment products, insurance products and sophisticated estate planning services.
Crestbrook Insurance Company* (f.k.a. CalFarm Insurance Company)	California		The company is an Ohio-based multi-line insurance corporation that is authorized to write personal, automobile, homeowners and commercial insurance.
Depositors Insurance Company	Iowa		The company underwrites general property and casualty insurance.
DVM Insurance Agency, Inc.	California		This company places the pet insurance business not written by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company outside of California with National Casualty Company.
F&B, Inc.	Iowa		The company is an insurance agency that places business with carriers other than Farmland Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates.
Farmland Mutual Insurance Company	Iowa		The company provides property and casualty insurance primarily to agricultural businesses.
FutureHealth Corporation	Maryland		The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FutureHealth Holding Company, which provides population health management.
FutureHealth Holding Company	Maryland		The company provides population health management.
FutureHealth Technologies Corporation	Maryland		The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FutureHealth Holding Company, which provides population health management.
Gates, McDonald & Company*	Ohio		The company provides services to employers for managing workers' compensation matters and employee benefits costs.
Gates, McDonald & Company of New York, Inc.	New York		The company provides workers' compensation and self-insured claims administration services to employers with exposure in New York.
Gates, McDonald Health Plus Inc.	Ohio		The company provides medical management and cost containment services to employers.
GVH Participacoes e Empreedimientos Ltda.	Brazil		The company acts as a holding company.
Insurance Intermediaries, Inc.	Ohio		The company is an insurance agency and provides commercial property and casualty brokerage services.

COMPANY	STATE/COUNTRY OF ORGANIZATION	NO. VOTING SECURITIES (see attached chart unless otherwise indicated)	PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
Intervent USA, Inc.	Georgia		Lifestyle Management and Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Programs Consultants.
Life REO Holdings, LLC	Ohio		The company serves as a holding company for foreclosure entities.
Lone Star General Agency, Inc.	Texas		The company acts as general agent to market non-standard automobile and motorcycle insurance for Colonial County Mutual Insurance Company.
Mullen TBG Insurance Agency Services, LLC	Delaware		The company is a joint venture between TBG Insurance Services Corporation and MC Insurance Agency Services LLC. The Company provides financial products and services to executive plan participants.
National Casualty Company	Wisconsin		The company underwrites various property and casualty coverage, as well as individual and group accident and health insurance.
National Casualty Company of America, Ltd.	England		This company is currently inactive.
Nationwide Advantage Mortgage Company*	Iowa		The company makes residential mortgage loans.
Nationwide Affinity Insurance Company of America*	Ohio		The company provides property and casualty insurance products.
Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company	Iowa		The company provides property and casualty insurance primarily to agricultural businesses.
Nationwide Arena, LLC*	Ohio		The purpose of the company is to develop Nationwide Arena and to engage in related development activity.
Nationwide Asset Management, LLC	Ohio		Provides investment advisory services as a registered investment advisor to affiliated and unaffiliated clients
Nationwide Asset Management Holdings Limited	England and Wales		The Company is an investment holding company
Nationwide Assurance Company	Wisconsin		The company underwrites non-standard automobile and motorcycle insurance.

COMPANY	STATE/COUNTRY OF ORGANIZATION	NO. VOTING SECURITIES (see attached chart unless otherwise indicated)	PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
Nationwide Bank*	United States		This is a federal savings bank chartered by the Office of Thrift Supervision in the United States Department of Treasury to exercise deposit, lending agency custody and fiduciary powers and to engage in activities permissible for federal savings banks under the Home Owners’ Loan act of 1933.
Nationwide Better Health, Inc. (f.k.a. Nationwide Health and Productivity Company)	Ohio		The company is a holding company for the health and productivity operations of Nationwide.
Nationwide Cash Management Company	Ohio		The company buys and sells investment securities of a short-term nature as the agent for other Nationwide corporations, foundations, and insurance company separate accounts.
Nationwide Community Development Corporation, LLC	Ohio		The company holds investments in low-income housing funds.
Nationwide Corporation	Ohio		The company acts primarily as a holding company for entities affiliated with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Nationwide Document Solutions, Inc. (f.k.a. ALLIED Document Solutions, Inc.)	Iowa		The company provides general printing services to its affiliated companies as well as to certain unaffiliated companies.
Nationwide Emerging Managers, LLC (f.k.a. Gartmore Emerging Managers, LLC)	Delaware		The company acquires and holds interests in registered investment advisors and provides investment management services.
Nationwide Exclusive Agent Risk Purchasing Group, LLC	Ohio		The company's purpose is to provide a mechanism for the purchase of group liability insurance for insurance agents operating nationwide.
Nationwide Financial Assignment Company	Ohio		The company is an administrator of structured settlements.
Nationwide Financial Institution Distributors Agency, Inc.	Delaware		The company is an insurance agency.
Nationwide Financial Services Capital Trust	Delaware		The trust's sole purpose is to issue and sell certain securities representing individual beneficial interests in the assets of the trust.

COMPANY	STATE/COUNTRY OF ORGANIZATION	NO. VOTING SECURITIES (see attached chart unless otherwise indicated)	PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.*	Delaware		The company acts primarily as a holding company for companies within the Nationwide organization that offer or distribute long-term savings and retirement products.
Nationwide Financial Sp. Zo.o	Poland		The company provides services to Nationwide Global Holdings, Inc. in Poland.
Nationwide Financial Structured Products, LLC	Ohio		The company captures and reports the results of the structured products business unit.
Nationwide Foundation*	Ohio		The company contributes to non-profit activities and projects.
Nationwide Fund Advisors	Delaware		The company is a business trust. The trust is designed to act as a registered investment advisor.
Nationwide Fund Distributors LLC (f.k.a. Gartmore Distribution Services, Inc.)	Delaware		The company is a distributor and administrator for Nationwide mutual funds.
Nationwide Fund Management LLC (f.k.a Gartmore Investors Services, Inc.)	Delaware		The corporation provides transfer and dividend disbursing services to various mutual fund entities.
Nationwide General Insurance Company	Ohio		The company transacts a general insurance business, except life insurance, and primarily provides automobile and fire insurance to select customers.
Nationwide Global Funds	Luxembourg		This company issues shares of mutual funds.
Nationwide Global Holdings, Inc.	Ohio		The company is a holding company for the international operations of Nationwide.
Nationwide Global Ventures (f.k.a. Gartmore Global Ventures, Inc.)	Delaware		The company acts as a holding company.
Nationwide Indemnity Company*	Ohio		The company is involved in the reinsurance business by assuming business from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and other insurers within the Nationwide Insurance organization.
Nationwide Insurance Company of America	Wisconsin		The corporation is an independent agency personal lines underwriter of property/casualty insurance.
Nationwide Insurance Company of Florida*	Ohio		The company transacts general insurance business except life insurance.
Nationwide International Underwriters	California		The company is a special risk, excess and surplus lines underwriting manager.
Nationwide Investment Advisors, LLC	Ohio		The company provides investment advisory services.

COMPANY	STATE/COUNTRY OF ORGANIZATION	NO. VOTING SECURITIES (see attached chart unless otherwise indicated)	PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
Nationwide Investment Services Corporation**	Oklahoma		This is a limited purpose broker-dealer and acts as an investment advisor.
Nationwide Life and Annuity Company of America**	Delaware		The company provides variable and traditional life insurance and other investment products. The company also maintains blocks of individual variable and fixed annuities products.
Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company**	Ohio		The company engages in underwriting life insurance and granting, purchasing, and disposing of annuities.
Nationwide Life Insurance Company*	Ohio		The company provides individual life insurance, group life and health insurance, fixed and variable annuity products, and other life insurance products.
Nationwide Life Insurance Company of America*	Pennsylvania		The company provides individual life insurance and group annuity products.
Nationwide Life Insurance Company of Delaware*	Delaware		The company insures against personal injury, disability or death resulting from traveling, sickness or other general accidents, and every type of insurance appertaining thereto.
Nationwide Lloyds	Texas		The company markets commercial property insurance in Texas.
Nationwide Management Systems, Inc.	Ohio		The company offers a preferred provider organization and other related products and services.
Nationwide Mutual Capital, LLC (f.k.a. Nationwide Strategic Investment Fund, LLC)	Ohio		The company acts as a private equity fund investing in companies for investment purposes and to create strategic opportunities for Nationwide.
Nationwide Mutual Capital I, LLC*	Delaware		The business of the company is to achieve long-term capital appreciation through a portfolio of primarily domestic equity investments in financial service and related companies.
Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company	Ohio		The company engages in a general insurance and reinsurance business, except life insurance.
Nationwide Mutual Funds	Delaware		The corporation operates as a business trust for the purposes of issuing investment shares to the public and to segregated asset accounts of life insurance companies.
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company*	Ohio		The company engages in a general insurance and reinsurance business, except life insurance.
Nationwide Private Equity Fund, LLC	Ohio		The company invests in private equity funds.
Nationwide Property and Casualty Insurance Company	Ohio		The company engages in a general insurance business, except life insurance.
Nationwide Property Protection Services, LLC	Ohio		The company provides alarm systems and security guard services.

COMPANY	STATE/COUNTRY OF ORGANIZATION	NO. VOTING SECURITIES (see attached chart unless otherwise indicated)	PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
Nationwide Provident Holding Company* (f.k.a. Provident Mutual Holding Company)	Pennsylvania		The company is a holding company for non-insurance subsidiaries.
Nationwide Realty Investors, Ltd.*	Ohio		The company is engaged in the business of developing, owning and operating real estate and real estate investments.
Nationwide Retirement Solutions, Inc.*	Delaware		The company markets and administers deferred compensation plans for public employees.
Nationwide Retirement Solutions, Inc. of Arizona	Arizona		The company markets and administers deferred compensation plans for public employees.
Nationwide Retirement Solutions, Inc. of Ohio	Ohio		The company provides retirement products, marketing and education and administration to public employees.
Nationwide Retirement Solutions, Inc. of Texas	Texas		The company markets and administers deferred compensation plans for public employees.
Nationwide Retirement Solutions, Insurance Agency, Inc.	Massachusetts		The company markets and administers deferred compensation plans for public employees.
Nationwide S.A. Capital Trust (f.k.a. Gartmore S.A. Capital Trust)	Delaware		The company is a business trust. The trust is designed to act as a registered investment advisor.
Nationwide Sales Solutions, Inc. (f.k.a. Allied Group Insurance Marketing Company)	Iowa		The company engages in direct marketing of property and casualty insurance products.
Nationwide Securities, Inc.*	Ohio		The company is a registered broker-dealer and provides investment management and administrative services.
Nationwide Separate Accounts, LLC (f.k.a. Gartmore Separate Accounts, LLC)	Delaware		The company acts as a registered investment advisor.
Nationwide Services Company, LLC	Ohio		The company performs shared services’ functions for the Nationwide organization.
Nationwide Services For You, LLC	Ohio		The company provides consumer services that are related to the business of insurance, including services that help consumers prevent losses and mitigate risks.
Nationwide Services Sp. Zo.o.	Poland		The corporation provides services to Nationwide Global Holdings, Inc. in Poland.
Newhouse Capital Partners, LLC	Delaware		The company invests in financial services companies that specialize in e-commerce and promote distribution of financial services.
Newhouse Capital Partners II, LLC	Delaware		The company invests in financial services companies that specialize in e-commerce and promote distribution of financial services.

COMPANY	STATE/COUNTRY OF ORGANIZATION	NO. VOTING SECURITIES (see attached chart unless otherwise indicated)	PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
Newhouse Special Situations Fund I, LLC	Delaware		The company owns and manages contributed securities in order to achieve long-term capital appreciation from the contributed securities and through investments in a portfolio of other equity investments in financial service and other related companies.
NF Reinsurance Ltd.*	Bermuda		The company serves as a captive reinsurer for Nationwide Life Insurance Company’s universal life, term life and annuity business.
NFS Distributors, Inc.	Delaware		The company acts primarily as a holding company for Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.'s distribution companies.
NWD Investment Management, Inc. (f.k.a. Gartmore Global Investments, Inc.)	Delaware		The company acts as a holding company and provides other business services for the NWD Investments group of companies.
NWD Management & Research Trust (f.k.a. Gartmore Global Asset Management Trust)	Delaware		The company acts as a holding company for the NWD Investments group of companies and as a registered investment advisor.
NWD MGT, LLC (f.k.a. GGI MGT LLC)	Delaware		The company is a passive investment holder in Newhouse Special Situations Fund I, LLC for the purpose of allocation of earnings to the NWD Investments management team as it relates to the ownership and management of Newhouse Special Situations Fund I, LLC.
Olentangy Reinsurance Company	Vermont		The company is a reinsurance company.
Pension Associates, Inc.	Wisconsin		The company provides pension plan administration and record keeping services, and pension plan and compensation consulting.
Premier Agency, Inc.	Iowa		This company is an insurance agency.
Provestco, Inc.	Delaware		The company serves as a general partner in certain real estate limited partnerships invested in by Nationwide Life Insurance Company of America.
RCMD Financial Services, Inc.	Delaware		The company is a holding company.
Registered Investment Advisors Services, Inc.	Texas		The company facilitates third-party money management services for plan providers.
Retention Alternatives, Ltd.*	Bermuda		The company is a captive insurer and writes first dollar insurance policies in workers’ compensation, general liability and automobile liability for its affiliates in the United States.

COMPANY	STATE/COUNTRY OF ORGANIZATION	NO. VOTING SECURITIES (see attached chart unless otherwise indicated)	PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
Riverview Alternative Investment Advisors, LLC (f.k.a. Gartmore Riverview, LLC)	Delaware		The company provides investment management services to a limited number of institutional investors.
Riverview Alternative Investment Advisors II LLC (f.k.a. Gartmore riverview II, LLC)	Delaware		The company is a holding company.
Riverview International Group, Inc.	Delaware		The company is a holding company.
RP&C International, Inc.	Ohio		The company is an investment-banking firm that provides specialist advisory services and innovative financial solutions to public and private companies internationally.
Scottsdale Indemnity Company	Ohio		The company is engaged in a general insurance business, except life insurance.
Scottsdale Insurance Company	Ohio		The company primarily provides excess and surplus lines of property and casualty insurance.
Scottsdale Surplus Lines Insurance Company	Arizona		The company provides excess and surplus lines coverage on a non-admitted basis.
TBG Aviation, LLC	California		The company holds an investment in a leased airplane and maintains an operating agreement with Flight Options.
TBG Danco Insurance Services Corporation	California		The corporation provides life insurance and individual executive estate planning.
TBG Financial & Insurance Services Corporation*	California		The company consults with corporate clients and financial institutions on the development and implementation of proprietary and/or private placement insurance products for the financing of executive benefit programs and individual executive's estate planning requirements.  As a broker dealer, TBG Financial & Insurance Services Corporation provides access to institutional insurance investment products.
TBG Insurance Services Corporation*	Delaware		The company markets and administers executive benefit plans.
THI Holdings (Delaware), Inc.*	Delaware		The company acts as a holding company for subsidiaries of the Nationwide group of companies.
Titan Auto Insurance of New Mexico, Inc.	New Mexico		The company is an insurance agency and operates as an employee agent "storefront" for Titan Indemnity Company of New Mexico.
Titan Indemnity Company	Texas		The company is a multi-line licensed insurance company and is operating primarily as a property and casualty insurance company.

COMPANY	STATE/COUNTRY OF ORGANIZATION	NO. VOTING SECURITIES (see attached chart unless otherwise indicated)	PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
Titan Insurance Company	Michigan		This is a property and casualty insurance company.
Titan Insurance Services, Inc.	Texas		The company is a Texas grandfathered managing general agency.
Veterinary Pet Insurance Company*	California		The company provides pet insurance.
Victoria Automobile Insurance Company	Indiana		The company is a property and casualty insurance company.
Victoria Fire & Casualty Company	Ohio		The company is a property and casualty insurance company.
Victoria National Insurance Company	Ohio		The company is a property and casualty insurance company.
Victoria Select Insurance Company	Ohio		The company is a property and casualty insurance company.
Victoria Specialty Insurance Company	Ohio		The company is a property and casualty insurance company.
Vida Seguradora SA	Brazil		The company operates as a licensed insurance company in the categories of life and unrestricted private pension plan in Brazil.
VPI Services, Inc.	California		The company operates as a nationwide pet registry service for holders of Veterinary Pet Insurance Company policies, including pet indemnification and a lost pet recovery program.
Washington Square Administrative Services, Inc.	Pennsylvania		The company provides administrative services to Nationwide Life and Annuity Company of America.
Western Heritage Insurance Company	Arizona		The company underwrites excess and surplus lines of property and casualty insurance.
Whitehall Holdings, Inc.	Texas		The company acts as a holding company for the Titan group of agencies.
W.I. of Florida (d.b.a. Titan Auto Insurance)	Florida		The company is an insurance agency and operates as an employee agent storefront for Titan Indemnity Company in Florida.

	COMPANY	STATE/COUNTRY OF ORGANIZATION	NO. VOTING SECURITIES (see attached chart  unless otherwise indicated)	PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
*	MFS Variable Account	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Multi-Flex Variable Account	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide VA Separate Account-A	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide VA Separate Account-B	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide VA Separate Account-C	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide VA Separate Account-D	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-II	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-3	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-4	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-5	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-6	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-7	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-8	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-9	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-10	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-11	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-12	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-13	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Variable Account-14	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
	Nationwide Variable Account-15	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
	Nationwide Variable Account-16	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
	Nationwide Variable Account-17	Ohio		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Provident VA Separate Account 1	Pennsylvania		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
*	Nationwide Provident VA Separate Account A	Delaware		Issuer of Annuity Contracts
	Nationwide VL Separate Account-A	Ohio		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
	Nationwide VL Separate Account-B	Ohio		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
*	Nationwide VL Separate Account-C	Ohio		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
*	Nationwide VL Separate Account-D	Ohio		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
*	Nationwide VL Separate Account-G	Ohio		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
*	Nationwide VLI Separate Account	Ohio		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
*	Nationwide VLI Separate Account-2	Ohio		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
*	Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3	Ohio		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
*	Nationwide VLI Separate Account-4	Ohio		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
*	Nationwide VLI Separate Account-5	Ohio		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
*	Nationwide VLI Separate Account-6	Ohio		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
*	Nationwide VLI Separate Account-7	Ohio		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
*	Nationwide Provident VLI Separate Account 1	Pennsylvania		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies
*	Nationwide Provident VLI Separate Account A	Delaware		Issuer of Life Insurance Policies

Item 27. Number of Contract Owners

The number of Contract Owners of Qualified and Non-Qualified Contracts as of February 1, 2008, was 3,210 and 3,952, respectively.

Item 28. Indemnification

Provision is made in Nationwide's Amended and Restated Code of Regulations and expressly authorized by the General Corporation Law of the State of Ohio, for indemnification by Nationwide of any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer or employee of Nationwide, against expenses, including attorneys fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, to the extent and under the circumstances permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Ohio.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 ("Act") may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling Nationwide pursuant to the foregoing provisions, Nationwide has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Item 29. Principal Underwriter

(a)   Waddell & Reed, Inc. serves as principal underwriter and general distributor for contracts issued through the following separate investment accounts of Nationwide Life Insurance Company and Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company:

Nationwide Variable Account-9

Nationwide Variable Account-12

Nationwide VA Separate Account-D

Nationwide VLI Separate Account-5

Also, Waddell & Reed, Inc. serves as principal underwriter and general distributor for the following management investment companies:

Waddell & Reed Advisors Asset Strategy Fund, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors Cash Management, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors Continental Income Fund, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Fixed Income Funds, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Government Securities Fund

Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors Accumulative Fund

Waddell & Reed Advisors Bond Fund

Waddell & Reed Advisors Core Investment Fund

Waddell & Reed Advisors Science and Technology Fund

Waddell & Reed Advisors Global Bond Fund, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors High Income Fund, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors International Growth Fund, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors Municipal Bond Fund, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors Municipal High Income Fund, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors New Concepts Fund, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors Retirement Shares, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors Select Funds, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors Dividend Income Fund

Waddell & Reed Advisors Energy Fund

Waddell & Reed Advisors Value Fund

Waddell & Reed Advisors Small Cap Fund, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors Tax-Managed Equity Fund, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Advisors Vanguard Fund, Inc.

Waddell & Reed Invested Portfolios, Inc.

W&R Target Funds, Inc.

Asset Strategy Portfolio

Balanced Portfolio

Bond Portfolio

Core Equity Portfolio

Dividend Income Portfolio

Global Natural Resources Portfolio

Growth Portfolio

High Income Portfolio

International Growth Portfolio

International Value Portfolio

Limited-Term Bond Portfolio

Micro Cap Growth Portfolio

Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Money Market Portfolio

Mortgage Securities Portfolio

Pathfinder Aggressive Portfolio

Pathfinder Conservative Portfolio

Pathfinder Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

Pathfinder Moderately Aggressive Portfolio

Pathfinder Moderate Portfolio

Real Estate Securities Portfolio

Science and Technology Portfolio

Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Small Cap Value Portfolio

Value Portfolio

(b) Directors and officers of Waddell & Reed, Inc.:

Thomas W. Butch	Chairman of the Board, Director and President
Henry J. Hermann	Director
Steven E. Anderson	Senior Executive Vice President and National Sales Manager
Bradley D. Hofmeister	Executive Vice President and Associate National Sales Manager
Daniel C. Schulte	Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Michael D. Strohm	Director, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Executive Officer
Terry L. Lister	Senior Vice President, Chief Regulatory Officer and Chief Compliance Officer
Mark A. Schieber	Senior Vice President and Controller
Wendy J. Hills	Senior Vice President and Secretary
Brent K. Bloss	Senior Vice President, Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer, and Principal Financial Officer

The principal business address of Waddell & Reed, Inc. is 6300 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66202.  Waddell & Reed, Inc. was organized as a Delaware corporation in 1981 and has, through predecessor companies, offered financial products and services since 1937.

(c)

Name of Principal Underwriter	Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions	Compensation on Redemption or Annuitization	Brokerage Commissions	Compensation
Waddell & Reed, Inc.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records

Timothy G. Frommeyer

Nationwide Life Insurance Company

One Nationwide Plaza

Columbus, OH  43215

Item 31. Management Services

Not Applicable

Item 32. Undertakings

The Registrant hereby undertakes to:

(a) file a post-effective amendment to this registration statement as frequently as is necessary to ensure that the audited financial statements in the registration statement are never more than 16 months old for so long as payments under the variable annuity contracts may be accepted;

(b) include either (1) as part of any application to purchase a contract offered by the prospectus, a space that an applicant can check to request a Statement of Additional Information, or (2) a post card or similar written communication affixed to or included in the prospectus that the applicant can remove to send for a Statement of Additional Information; and

(c) deliver any Statement of Additional Information and any financial statements required to be made available under this form promptly upon written or oral request.

The Registrant represents that any of the contracts which are issued pursuant to Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, are issued by Nationwide through the Registrant in reliance upon, and in compliance with, a no-action letter issued by the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission to the American Council of Life Insurance (publicly available November 28, 1988) permitting withdrawal restrictions to the extent necessary to comply with Section 403(b)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Nationwide represents that the fees and charges deducted under the contract in the aggregate are reasonable in relation to the services rendered, the expenses expected to be incurred and risks assumed by Nationwide.

SIGNATURES

As required by the Securities Act of 1933, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant, NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT-12 certifies that it needs the requirements of the Separate Account Rule 485(b) for effectiveness of the Registration Statement and has caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf in the City of Columbus, and State of Ohio, on this 15h day of December, 2008.

NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT-12

(Registrant)

NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

(Depositor)

By /s/ JAMIE RUFF CASTO

Jamie Ruff Casto

As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 15th day of December, 2008.

W. G. JURGENSEN
W. G. Jurgensen, Director and Chief Executive Officer
ARDEN L. SHISLER
Arden L. Shisler, Chairman of the Board
JOSEPH A. ALUTTO
Joseph A. Alutto, Director
JAMES G. BROCKSMITH, JR.
James G. Brocksmith, Jr., Director
KEITH W. ECKEL
Keith W. Eckel, Director
LYDIA M. MARSHALL
Lydia M. Marshall, Director
MARTHA MILLER DE LOMBERA
Martha Miller de Lombera, Director
DAVID O. MILLER
David O. Miller, Director
JAMES F. PATTERSON
James F. Patterson, Director
GERALD D. PROTHRO
Gerald D. Prothro, Director
ALEX SHUMATE
Alex Shumate, Director
THOMAS F. ZENTY III
Thomas F. Zenty III, Director
	By /s/ JAMIE RUFF CASTO
	Jamie Ruff Casto
	Attorney-in-Fact